England end their World Cup preparations with a goalless draw against a fiesty Honduran side as the two teams are forced off for 40 minutes

First, Roy Hodgson’s men suffered a 44-minute delay because of ­lightning, then they were victims of some thunderous tackling from Honduras’s hatchet men – and were lucky to be arriving in Brazil this morning without any more serious injuries.

Skipper Steven Gerrard reflected the anger and frustration in the England camp when he said: “There were some horrific challenges. I certainly got caught by one.”

Striker Daniel Sturridge was incensed to have the ball smashed at him at point blank range as he lay on the turf.

Gerrard added: “I don’t ­understand referees when a player kicks the ball in the chest of a player on the deck.

“It was a clear red card.”

Watched by former captain David Beckham, England passed and moved well enough, with Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck particularly lively.

But their inability to break down one of the weakest nations to qualify for the World Cup – and who were reduced to 10 men for the final quarter of match – will be troubling for Hodgson.

Sturridge spurned two sitters, but England will feel they did not create enough clear-cut chances as they dodged the rainclouds and the swinging boots.

There were seven bookings – three for England and a red card for Honduras midfielder Brayan Beckeles – as the central ­Americans provoked a pre-World Cup kicking match, and the Three Lions responded in kind.

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Calm before the storm: England line-up pre-match

Referee Ricardo Salazar had to take both teams into dressing room when the electrical storm broke out midway through the first half.

With Florida law stating no outdoor event can be staged until 30 minutes after the final fork of lightning, the delay was frustrating lengthy.

Salazar did not seem quite so keen on healthy and safety concerns when it came to the Honduran tackling though with Hodgson and assistant Gary Neville frequently fuming on the touchline.

Hodgson reverted to the starting XI which took on Peru last week – his likeliest line-up to take on Italy this Saturday.

The mercury was nudging 90 degrees – significantly hotter than for Wednesday’s clash with Ecuador here, and a similar temperature to that expected in Amazonia.

Honduras, competing in their second successive World Cup finals in Brazil, are never to be taken lightly. This is a nation which once went to war with neighbouring El Salvador over a football match.

Welbeck conjured England’s first shot on goal – saved at the second attempt by Noel Valladares – but gave Hodgson a minor scare when he seemed to turn over his ankle.

Victor Bernardez blazed over after England failed to deal with a corner, but they then produced a lightning-fast breakaway just before the lightning break. Welbeck surged forward, fed Rooney and dummied his return, leaving Sturridge to perform a pirouette but shoot wide when he’s look certain to score.

Then came the delay – the sort of thing you expect at Lord’s or Wimbledon, but never at a football match.

After the restart, it seemed more than ever that this would be an exercise in eggshell-treading.

Sturridge was on the receiving end of a meaty challenge, which left him hobbling, and Gerrard the victim of a savage tackle from Wilson Palacios, which earned Stoke’s human wrecking-ball a yellow card.

Worse was to come when Honduras’ Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre fouled Sturridge and then fired the ball into his crown jewels from point-blank range.

Wigan’s Roger Espinoza aimed a wild swing of the boot at Glen Johnson before some football broke out – Adam Lallana having a shot deflected wide and Palacios doing likewise for Honduras. Hodgson withdrew Gerrard and Wayne Rooney at the break – perhaps as a precaution against Honduras’s alehouse tactics – sending on Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley.

The two subs soon combined with Barkley curling a shot wide before the Everton man was sent sprawling by a challenge which earned Bernardez a yellow.

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Beckeles then flew into Welbeck as the supposed friendly ­threatened to boil over. Welbeck had a shot blocked after exchanging passes with the lively Adam Lallana – but the ­Southampton man soon committed one of the worst fouls of the match on Espinoza.

Reckless Beckeles saw red for clobbering Leighton Baines in the back of the head as Salazar finally clamped down.

Sturridge then squandered another chance, but this whole lengthy exercise seemed like a dangerous exercise which achieved very little.